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ENG30970

Academic Year 2024/2025

Dissertation Research Methods (ENG30970)

Subject:
English
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Pass/Fail (GPA Neutral)

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a practical module that is intended to provide the necessary preparation for working on your undergraduate dissertation next trimester. It will help you select and refine your research topic and develop your research strategy; it will support your reading and writing processes; and it will guide you as you begin research supervision. By the end of the module you will have a well-developed plan for your dissertation and will have begun working with your supervisor.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. To learn how to produce a focused, viable, and original research plan.
2. To develop skills in selecting and evaluating appropriate scholarly sources.
3. To discover how to choose appropriate research methodologies.
4. To further enhance high-level reading and writing skills.
5. To improve referencing and appropriate scholarly presentation skills.
6. To learn how to work effectively with supervisors.

Indicative Module Content:

I. GETTING STARTED
Choosing a research topic
Disciplinary approaches to research
II. READING
Compiling a reading list
Reading and notetaking
Synthesizing reading and finding your voice
Bibliographical exercise workshop
III. PLANNING
Making the most of supervision
Research presentation workshop
IV. WRITING
Writing as research method
Dissertation structure
Editing and revision

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

17
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

47
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active learning workshops, individual writing and reflection, discussion, peer review, independent research.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
:
-


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Student Negotiated or Choice of Assessment: Bibliographical exercise - choice of annotated bibliography, literature review, or position paper Week 7 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
50
 No
Individual Project: Pre-recorded research presentation - three slides, three minutes. Please note that this is not a 'live' presentation. Week 14 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

De Sousa Correa, Delia and W.R. Owens, eds, The Handbook to Literary Research. Abingdon: Routledge, 2010. [e-book available via UCD Library]

Griffin, Gabriele, ed. Research Methods for English Studies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2013. [e-book available via UCD Library]

For referencing, see the MLA style guide on the library website: https://libguides.ucd.ie/mlastyle

Name Role
Dr Catríona Clutterbuck Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Emma Bennett Tutor
Dr Tupur Chattopadhyay Tutor
Assoc Professor Lucy Collins Tutor
Assoc Professor Luca Crispi Tutor
Assoc Professor Sharae Deckard Tutor
Professor Fionnuala Dillane Tutor
Professor Porscha Fermanis Tutor
Professor Jane Grogan Tutor
Professor Eamonn Jordan Tutor
Professor Margaret Kelleher Tutor
Assoc Professor Jorie Lagerwey Tutor
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Tutor
Dr Anthony McIntyre Tutor
Assoc Professor Anne Mulhall Tutor
Professor Diane Negra Tutor
Dr Harvey O'Brien Tutor
Dr Michelle O'Connell Tutor
Assoc Professor Niamh Pattwell Tutor
Dr Emma Radley Tutor
Dr Martha Shearer Tutor
Dr Ashley Taggart Tutor
Assoc Professor Nerys Williams Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 10:00 - 10:50
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